Mingle and an Intro: Welcome to the Box!

[gravemanagement]

[ On today, a long-time business has been bought for the day and paid well. Whoever paid it wants people to eat and make merry for some reason. Must be a holiday? Huh, all devices showing the date day it's the new year. It doesn't matter what day it was for you before now, it's not the new year. And you? You are at the Chloe Café at 1:30PM.

Waiters and waitresses will take your order. Really, it's a chill time. Even if you're supposed to be dead? You're alive now, somewhere in Los Angeles, Japanifornia. Welcome and have a good day, because eventually there's gonna be a murder to solve in this big ol' city. ]

Comments

[guiltyguitar]

Fun for me, or fun for them? Because that's a big difference. Most prosecutors think making people guilty or having a big winning streak is fun. Even I studied about von Karma in school back in the day.

But...! Complaints or not, that isn't our job, is it? Our job is to put on a damn good show with the facts and evidence we've got until the truth dances out onto stage and sings for us.

[ That's just how it is. He's always felt that way. ]

[bittertasteofdefeat]

[He can't help but smirk a little at that - if only because the kid has a point about verdicts and winning streaks and victory counts in the prosecutor's office; something that even he'd fallen into, somewhat.

He studied von Karma in school back in the day? He makes it sound like the old man was ancient history.

...Which probably isn't a terrible stretch because he was absolutely a living fossil for awhile there, but that's besides the point.]

That's an awfully poetic way of looking at it, don't you think?

[It's a simple question, but one with quite a bit of heavy, unspoken implications. Because what he's not saying, are the backhanded references to some of the dealing and corruption that occurs within the system at a fundamental level. In fact, that very corruption is what drives the system and keeps it going, after a point.

...Seeing someone with such an untainted view of things was almost as refreshing as it was jarring. Is this guy a new prosecutor? Surely, he must be, if he's not anywhere as jaded as the others and still clinging to such bright idealism.]

[guiltyguitar]

Do you know what making music and making a case have in common? It IS all about the poetry. How you spin what's in front of you.

[ He whips out his shades. The sun is moving in. It's a little glaring. And besides, he's a little worried someone might recognize him still. ]

... It just so happens some people like to hide things, or add extra things into the verse, and it gets all muddled. The system might be a mess, but it's our mess. Nobody's going to mop the floor for us! I'm afraid courtrooms don't get enough groupies for that!

[ A pause, and he grins. ]

Besides, it sounds to me like you know all about that, ja?

[ You don't ask the right questions like that without SOME kind of insider knowledge. This guy is a lawyer of some sort. He's definitely not law enforcement. Klav has too many buddies in that to not recognize someone in the force. ]

[bittertasteofdefeat]

[The kid's sharp, even if he speaks in music metaphors like they might as well be a second language to him.

There's a hint of an amused grin as he takes another sip of his coffee.]

What can I say? I know a few things.

[That hint of a grin fades fairly quickly, and any trace of amusement vanishes along with it, as he adopts a much more serious tone. Even if he is playing off the use of metaphors the blond had set.]

I might have played my share of bittersweet melodies over the years, and more than a few somber requiems.

[He takes a long sip of his coffee. It's not visible, thanks to his visor, but his eyes are briefly closed as he mulls over the sensory input from the beverage like some kind of grounding tool - focusing on the feeling of the steam, the feeling of the hot liquid on his lips, the taste composition of the blend, the aftertaste, the fragrance, the warmth of the mug..A brief distraction from the high risk of falling down the trap of getting caught up in his own mind, but a welcome one. For that one little moment, all that matters is the steaming hot drink. The world can wait.

He slowly opens his eyes and looks back over at the blond - not that the musician prosecutor would've noticed the difference, thanks to the visor.]

[guiltyguitar]

Well, you've got a hell of a pokerface. That'd put anyone at disadvantage in the courtroom.

[ Friendly way of saying he has zero idea how to read you, exactly. Still... the things he said has him remembering a lot of thoroughly unpleasant business.

His brother, in jail, for one thing. He really doesn't want to think about it. ]

... Besides, if you do this job long enough, you end up with a few spooks in your closet no matter what. Hard to avoid it.

[bittertasteofdefeat]

[There's a slight bark of a bitter laugh at that, even if it is stifled and not nearly as unhinged as it could've been if he'd let it go. Before he quickly pulls his composure back together, even if there's still a slight curl to his lips as he initially speaks.]

It's not by choice.

[He taps the edge of his visor's frame, his fingers making an audible hollow sound against it as he does so.]

I wouldn't be able to see without this. Something of a lasting memento from a meeting gone wrong. Like Icarus, I paid the price for my ambition.

[The grin at that is absolutely reflexive, and probably originates from his trying to downplay how much that entire incident and its aftermath actually bothered him, when it inevitably came up around people.

And he's being nice. He's not even mentioning the details of neurotoxin and five years of coma and central nervous system damage only to wake up and find that the love of his life is dead!]

[guiltyguitar]

... I can only imagine.

[ It's said earnestly. Because well. He could never live Godot's shoes, now could he? It must be hell. ]

But you know. As long as you can do what you need to do... isn't pressing forward the most important thing?

[ He may have just revealed how he works, himself. His tone is a little bit more somber despite his smile. ]

Incidentally, I think I finally realize where I recognize you from. You're Herr Godot, aren't you? I've read about your cases in at least passing, back when I was still a C minor.

... A smile is all people harmed by monsters have. If you let them take that away... ha ha ha. What else do you have, really?

[bittertasteofdefeat]

[ "Isn't pressing forward the most important thing?" he raises his mug in a very sort of "cheers" gesture at that, a sort of quiet agreement/acknowledgment. The kid's right, that really is about all that anyone can do.

There's a bit of a natural smirk that crosses his lips, however, at the recognition. Frankly, he's a little surprised that the visor wasn't more of a tip-off - but he's not complaining. It's just as well that someone like him isn't noticed or identified on-sight.]

Correct. Although, I'm surprised that you actually bothered to go over any of my former cases. Which ones, out of curiosity?

[It's an important question, a much more polite spin of "how much do you know, exaactly", and much to the same general effect. As he sips from his drink, he's quietly hoping that the blond never actually bothered to see the footage from that final case of his. Nothing quite like "and then you committed murder only to get arrested and die of complications from that poison's damage shortly after" to make a conversation go well.

...Especially with someone who appears to hold such high ideals.

His expression is a more serious one as he speaks.]

You'll have to forgive me. Despite my best efforts in this conversation, I still can't piece together who you actually are. Aside from being a prosecutor who likely had some kind of musical career at some point.

[A small smirk.]

Your fans are a bit distinctive, in that regard.

[So were the music metaphors, but he's not going there.

"...A smile is all people harmed by monsters have. If you let them take that away... ha ha ha. What else do you have, really?"

This kid gets it.]


An attorney is someone who smiles no matter how bad it gets.

[Another slight, slightly bitter smirk.]

If you can't manage to look like you're holding it together, you really don't stand a chance out there. Nobody is going to trust someone who comes off like they're lacking confidence. And if things are going badly, why give them the additional satisfaction?

[His expression is back to being that default serious and slightly somber one.]

...If anything, it's just unfortunate how many people out there have been harmed by monsters.

[What the other prosecutor can't see is that he absolutely just closed his eyes for a just moment after saying that.

He's absolutely noticed the implications that the blond also has a few things that he's dealing with, but he's not about to go digging around and asking.]

[guiltyguitar]

... Well, I went over all the prosecutors worth knowing. I wouldn't say I read everything cover to cover, but... that crazy thief and the young waitress were interesting. ... Wish I could say the same for the defense attorney in those cases.

[ Mild hint he doesn't trust Phoenix? Maybe! He has no proof... and he isn't sure about his brother.

Maybe he was wrong.

But for now, he has no choice but to believe that forged evidence... was Phoenix's own doing. ]

You know, I faced him down in court once myself, and found myself incredibly disappointed. My very first case, even! ... It makes me wonder if Herr Wright's reputation was really earned.

[marlonmajesty]

Kachessa Strahl.

[ She holds out a hand to shake. ]

It's a pleasure to meet you.

[guiltyguitar]

Klavier Gavin. Prosecutor by day, rock god by night.

[ He smiles. And firmly shakes that hand! ]

The pleasure is all mine, Fräulein.

[bittertasteofdefeat]

[And what had started out as a lot of uncertainty about how this was going to go, suddenly paid off in a surprisingly big way.

He and this young hotshot are probably going to get along just fine after all.

He's surprised that he's still considered 'one of the prosecutors worth knowing', but he'll take that.

Even though that last court battle seemed like it ended on a vaguely civil note, old wounds don't actually heal so quickly. Particularly not ones that run as deeply as that. So, the mention of Phoenix in a less-than-generous light? Strikes a chord with him. He'll drink to that.]

He's incredibly frustrating, is what he is. A real piece of work.

[There's an emphatic mug-point at that, a bit of an old habit. He finishes cup number twelve and signals the waitress again. How have they not decided to cut him off or kick him out at this point is entirely beyond him.

"You know, I faced him down in court once myself, and found myself incredibly disappointed. My very first case, even! ...It makes me wonder if Herr Wright's reputation was really earned."

His attention is visibly piqued. There's a story here.]

Oh? What happened?

[marlonmajesty]

Gavin... Gavin...

[ She seems bothered by this, and then-- ]

Oh! Any relation to Kristoph Gavin?

[ She seems surprised! Gee I wonder fucking why. ]

[guiltyguitar]

Well. I can agree with that. It's kind of a shame. I mean, you grow up hearing about this guy that's so very special... I'll tell you what happened, but you probably won't believe me. I got him disbarred for forging evidence.

[ His easy smile is a mask. It hides the storm of turmoil in his soul about the entire thing, honestly. He flags the waitress down and asks for a coffee, himself. ]

That was my first case. Ach! What a mess it was. Pretty public, too.

[guiltyguitar]

[ ............. Well fuck, that's not a name he was hoping to hear. ]

You... know my brother? How?

[marlonmajesty]

He's in the latest text books for everything around what he did. An example of what not to do, as it were. ...Sorry, that's probably insensitive.

[ But also he asked. ]

[guiltyguitar]

...

[ ............. UH. There's some cursing in German. Sorry. ]

A-already...?

[marlonmajesty]

Already...? The big scandals were a few years ago now. It was a big deal, the whole framing Phoenix Wright thing for forged evidence and the murders he committed, including attempted murder of a teenaged girl. Of course he'd be an example in text books.

[ Klav your brother did a lot of bad. ]

[bittertasteofdefeat]

[He was trying to be good, minding his own business at his table.

But he couldn't help but overhear that part about Klavier's brother framing Phoenix Wright for forged evidence.

He absolutely just did a spit take and nearly choked on his coffee.

His free hand comes up to the side of his visor, realizing he probably just drew attention to himself. Pay him no mind. Really. Please.]

[guiltyguitar]

What?!

[ --EXCUSE HIM. He takes a moment to look back at Godot and honestly cannot blame him for the reaction.

Same man.

Same. ]

That's not just the kind of thing you can say without evidence so casually! Proof! Where's the proof!! ... I'll admit he murdered a man. I know about that. Everyone knows about that. It's disgraceful. And he certainly tried to pin it on Herr Wright, but...

[ Denial is not just a river in Egypt. ]

[marlonmajesty]

...

[ Kachessa is just going to look at him like he grew another head. ]

Were you not present for the revelation of all of this? D... Did you somehow miss all of that scandal?

[ Gods, okay, where's the nearest library. ]

I don't have my textbook on-hand, maybe...

[ Googling on her phone and then handing it to him to read a news article on the whole thing. ]

[guiltyguitar]

No?! Wha--

[ It says he was the prosecutor ON THE GODDAMN CASE WHAT. His eyes furiously look over what's written and he can't believe it. ]

I... I don't remember... any of this! Mein gott! ... This joke isn't very funny, Fräulein!

[marlonmajesty]

There's something strange going on here... I can't exactly fake a news article on a phone, after all. And if you'd like...

[ She'll take him back to the results page! There's more than one. ]

I definitely can't fake more than one. So something strange must be happening...

[guiltyguitar]

... Nein!

[ No no no no no. This isn't happening. So many images rush before him.

"Ah... I won't be appearing in the trial, actually."

"Huh? Why not?"

"I won't be facing off with you on your first trial, apparently. But in exchange, I brought information."

"Information...?"

"The attorney who'll be there in my place tomorrow is not to be trusted."

Kristoph had the most to gain. Kristoph had the most reasons for wanting Phoenix gone. All of them petty. But he's known Kristoph for years. Surely he'd never... surely he'd...

... But then, he didn't believe the murder charge at first, either. But it was true. He DID kill a man. He admitted to it. ]

... What kind of sick joke is this...?

[marlonmajesty]

...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause problems like this.

[ But now there's the mystery of why Klavier doesn't remember. ]